Self-adjusting foot-rest



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

in, Model.) G. J. SHULTS.

SELPADJUSTING FOOT REST.

Nd. 530,859. Patented Dec. 11, 1894.

THE uomus mans nov mmuuma, wnsnmorow n c (No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

G.- J. SHULTS, SELF ADJUSTING F001 REST.

No. 530.859. PatentedDec. 11,1894.

NITED STATES .ATENT Enron.

SELF-ADJUSTING FOOT-REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,859, dated.December 11, 1 894.

7 Application filed April 24, 1894- Serial No. 508,837. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. SHULTs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dansville, in the county of Livingston and State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-AdjustingFoot-Rests, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention has for its objects to provide a new and improvedfoot-rest particularly designed to be portable and stand on the floor inproximity to a chair or other seat; and to provide an article of thischaracter havinga heel-supporting roll or bar, and a rest frame orsection normally standing in an inclined plane, and so pivotally mountedthat its upper end will ascend and its lower end descend when pressureis appliedin juxtaposition to the heel-supporting roll or bar, for thepurpose of increasing the angle of inclination relatively to ahorizontal plane'and causing the rest frame or section to accommodateitself to the feet, whether the legs are bent or retracted, or arestretched out full length.

To accomplish these objects my invention consists in the features ofconstruction and the combination or arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings, in

Which- 1 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a footrest constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, omitting thepivotally mounted rest-frame or section; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view of the same.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use myinvention,I will now describe the same in detail, referring to thedrawings, Wherein- The numeral lindicates the side pieces of thesupporting frame which are rigidly secured together at a sufficientdistance apart to receive between them and permit the rocking motions ofa foot-rest frame or section 2, which is preferably composed of arectangular or square board upholstered on its upper side in anysuitable manner, but preferably covered with a plush fabric extendingover a suitable stuffing or filling to make the frame or section softand comfortable. The side portingframe,

pieces gradually increase in height from the front to the rear end, sothat their rear end portions are elevated and constitute upwardextensions 3, which are connected by a roll or cross-bar 4, alsoupholstered exterior-1y in any suitable manner, but preferablycoveredwith a plush fabric. The lower front end portions of the side pieces arerigidly connected by a heel-supporting roll or cross-bar 5 which ispreferably upholstered with plush fabric and rises some distance abovethe surface of the foot-rest frame or section 2, so that when the feetrest upon the latter the heels can bear against and be supported by theheel-supporting roll or cross-bar.

The dimensions of the foot-rest frame or section 2 are coextensive withthe distance between the side pieces and the rolls or cross bars 4 and5, and this rest-frame or section is pivotally mounted near its centerin the supso that it is susceptible of rocking or oscillating in avertical plane.

The rest-frame or section can be centrally pivoted or hinged within thesupporting frame through the medium of any suitable devices, but, asherein illustrated, it is pivotally mounted through the medium ofmetallic plates, as at 6, secured to the under side of the rest-frame orsection centrallybetween the upper and lower ends thereof and havingprojecting pivots 7 engaged with pivot bearings inthe side-pieces 1. Thepivots project from the opposite edges of the rest-frame or section ator near the center thereof, and the rest-frame or section normallystands in an inclined plane and at its lower portion it is sustained byan elastic arm 8, one or more, coiled around a laterally projecting pin9, and having an extension 10 secured to one of the side pieces. Theelastic arm, with its coiled portion and extension 10, constitutes avery simple and economical spring by which the rest-frame or section isrendered spring yielding. In practice asingle spring, in juxtapositionto one of the side pieces, is sufficient, but obviously a spring of thecharacter referred to may be arranged in juxtaposition to each sidepiece, or the spring may be otherwise constructed and arranged toyieldingly support the lower portion of the pivotally mounted rest-frameor section. The depression of the upper end portion of the rest-frame orsection is limited by a rigid stoppin 12, projecting inwardly from oneof the side pieces 1, so that the power of the spring pressing the lowerportion of the rest-frame or section in an upward direction will holdthe upper end portion of the rest-frame or section against the rigidstop-pin, and thus preserve the rest-frame or section in an inclinedposition.

If the feet be placed upon the rest-frame or section and the foot-rest,as a whole, is pushed in a direction away from the chair or seatoccupied by the user the rest frame or section will rock or oscillateapproximately 011 its center and accommodate itself to the position ofthe feet. In this operation the lower portion of the rest-frame orsection will descend and the upper portion will ascend, but theheelsupporting roll or crossbar 5 affords aperfect rest for the heels,and consequently the feet are supported in the most comfortableposition.

The side pieces are provided with projecting feet-like portions 13 and14, designed to rest upon the floor, and preferably the feet 14 areprovided with rubber or other elastic or flexible pads 15 which serve toprevent the foot-rest sliding on the floor when pressure is applied onthe pivotally mounted rest-frame or section to vary its angle ofinclination.

In foot-rests already manufactured by me I have provided the rolls orcross-bars and the rest-frame or section with plush fabrics ofcontrasting colors, and the whole presents avery handsome and ornamentalappearance, but obviously the character of the upholstering maybevariously modified, or for a cheaper grade of article the upholsteringmay be entirely omitted.

The roll or crossbar 4: at the upper end of the inclined rest-frame orsection not only imparts an ornamental finished appearance to thefoot-rest, but it may be utilized as a bearing or rest for the toes inpushing the foot-rest in a direction away from the chair or seatoccupied by the user for the purpose of securing the most comfortableposition of the feet, and to place the legs in the desired position.

The structure, as a whole, is practically rigid, except as to therocking or oscillating rest-frame or section, and it is readilyportable, so that it can be moved from place to place and arranged inany desired position to suit the wishes of the user.

My invention provides avery novel, simple, efficient and economicalfoot-rest, which is self-adjusting and very satisfactory and desirablein practical use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A foot-rest,consisting of a supporting frame composed of side pieces, aheel-supporting roll or bar at its lower portion, and a roll orcross-bar at its upper portion, a rest-frame or section pivoted betweenits upper and lower ends to the side pieces of the supporting frame,normally standing in an inclined position and rising at its upper endwhen its lower end is depressed below the heel-supporting roll or bar, alaterally projecting stop-pin secured to a side piece of the supportingframe for limiting the depression of the upper end of the rest frame orsection, and a spring arranged to swing the lower end of the pivotedrest frame in an upward direction against the heel-supporting roll,substantially as described.

2. A foot-rest, consisting of a supporting frame composed of sidepieces, a heel-supporting roll or bar at its lower portion, and a rollor cross-bar at its upper portion, a restframe or section pivotedbetween its upper and lower ends to the side pieces of the supportingframe, normally standing in an inclined position and rising at its upperend when its lower end is depressed below the heel-supporting roll orbar, a laterally projecting stop-pin securedto a side piece of thesupporting frame for limiting the depression of the upper end of therest-frameor section, and a spring secured to a side piece of thesupporting frame and acting to swing the lower end of the pivotedrest-frame in an upward direction against the heel-supporting roll andnormally holding the upper end of the rest-frame or section against saidstoppin, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE J. SHULTS. [L.

